What's At Stake: Hands Off Our Coasts: Say No to Drilling


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		What's At Stake? Hands Off Our Coasts: Say No to Drilling Marine life and pristine shoreline across the country are at risk. About 90% of America's coasts have been federally protected for decades. But now Congress is considering an energy bill that calls for an invasive inventory of oil and gas throughout sensitive coastal waters. The inventory would use seismic surveys that involve explosive shock waves that can harm marine life. And to make matters worse, there may be efforts to allow states to drop out of the moratorium on coastal drilling. Coastal oil drilling threatens coastal and marine habitat and wildlife -- including dolphins, whales, and sea birds. Additionally, coastal drilling threatens beachfront that bring in millions of tourist dollars across America's coasts and shorelines. Why Now? The U.S. has just 3% of the known world oil reserves. Yet, we use 25% of the world's oil. No matter how you look at it, we can't drill our way to energy independence. Instead, we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil and find alternative energy sources. For the last 24 years, our coasts have been protected because of a moratorium on offshore drilling on America's sensitive coastlines. Now, as part of the 2005 energy bill, some in Congress want to open up America's coastlines to offshore drilling. The Legislation The Senate recently passed the 2005 energy bill that calls for an inventory of oil and gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf, which can damage fisheries and sensitive coastal areas. If passed, this would be the first step toward lifting a ban on offshore drilling that has protected the nation's coastal waters for two decades. Without the ban, drilling on these sensitive areas will harm the environment and the economies of the affected coastal states. We must act now to protect our coasts before Congress makes an egregious mistake. Please write your members of Congress and urge them to protect our coasts and to oppose any amendments that would lead to increased offshore drilling. Take action now. Go Back
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What's At Stake?

Hands Off Our Coasts: Say No to Drilling